Dehydrating apparatus.



W. S. OSBORNE.

DEHYDRATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.24,1909.

1,007,382, Patented Oct. 31, 1911 4 SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES I v 1 [MENTOR W, 6% 7Vz'ZZz'am Osborne 4 TTORIIEYS W. S. OSBORNE. DEHYDRATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED PERM, 1909.

1,007,382. g Patented 0ct.31,1911. v

4 sHEnws snnnT 2.

WITNESSES I V1. 67W m'ZZz'am A Qsorize ATTORNEYS W. S. OSBORNE. DEHYDRATING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED PEB.24, 1909.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

luvs/nan I 7782mm 15. 0.55 07728 VITA 98856 I 0/; c, A W

' l TTOHIIEYS W. s. OSBORNE. DEHYDRATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED PC1124. 1909.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

4 SHEETSSHBET 4.

mm Ton William 15. Osborne A TTORNEYS To on whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

WILLIAM sILAs osnonivrz; or Nnw'YonK, N. Y., ASSiGNOB, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro OSBORNE nEsICCATINe MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION 3F NEW YORK! DEHYnRA'rINe APPARATUS.

Application filed February 24, 1909. Serial No. 479,820.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. Osnomvn, a citizenof the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, County and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Dehydrating Apparatus, of which the following .is a specification. This invention is a dehydrating or desiccati apparatus adapted to concentrate or dry iquidsubstances, and, more particularly, for producing milk powder.

It is well recognized that the constituents of milk, particularly the albuminoids, are

.very susceptible to changes if heated for toolong a time .or at too high a temperature, and the object of the present invention is to remove the liquid from the milk in such manner that .the solid constituents retain substantially their normal characteristics as,

to taste, solubility, etc.

In the present invention, the milk, or

other liquid. substance to be treated, is spread out into films and brought into contact with a large. volume of warm air, whereby it is thoroughly and expeditiously dehydrated.

In a preferred form of the invention, the milk, or other liquid, is distributed ina thin layer over each of a'series of rotatable orbafile above each table, and inclined with reference to the table, so that an air. chamber orv space is formed having a considerably ,largerarea at its .outlet than at-its.inlet-, 45

whereby thespeed' of the .air through the chamber is kept substantially uniform, and thereby enabling the'milk on all parts of the 'tablejto be evaporated. 1 the same conditions.

under substantially In .the accompanying drawings. I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, butthe construction shown there in is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my new dehydrating apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line.22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view, the plane of the section being on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail showing one of the distributing pipes adapted to flow the liquid to be treated upon the table. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of a portion of one of the scraping devices. Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section through said scraping device. Fig. 7 is a plan view of one of the adjustable supports for the rotating table.-- Fig. 8 is a cross section on the line 88 of Fig. 7. A I

A'designates a rotatable platform,'preferably in the form of a broad flat ring having a central opening, a. Said platform issupported in a horizontal position on rollers,

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

B, and for this purpose the rollers are flanged, as shown in Fig. 1, and adapted for.

engagement with an annulardepending flange, a, of the platform. The supporting rollers, B, are each mounted on a horizontal axle, I), carried in theupper part of a vertical adjustable slide, B, .the latter being fitted for movement in parallel guides, 12', of a stand, B The slide is provided, also, with a central opening, 0, which receives a guide member, C, whereby the slide is guided. -at its edges and central portion for adjustment in a vertical direction within said stand, 'B Thebottom portion of slide, B, is provided with flanges, 0 with which engage adjusting screws, Q," aving bearings in a flange, c of the stand,- Bi, all as shown clearly in Figs. 1, 7 and 8. A proper number of the I stands vand rollers are provided .below the rotary platform for supporting the latter in operative position, and the rollers are adjustable separately by proper manipulation of the screws, 0, whereby the table is supported for rotation freely in a horizontal plane. Upon said rotary plats 1 form is erected an upright skeleton frame,

shown in Figs. 2' and 3 of the drawings es lo:

consisting of vertical columns, D, preferabl in the form of angle irons, and horizonta rings, E, thelatter being, also composed of angle irons. Columns, D, are secured firmly form. A, respectively.

. fastened the rings.

over each table, H. The batlles or plates are to rotary platform, A, preferably near the 1 outer edge thereof, and to said columns are "I, therebyproducing a light but substantial skeleton structure or frame work, the latter being adapted to supportthe rotating devices.

Suitable means are provided for positively thriving;- the rotary platform and the devices thereon, but, as shownv in Fig. 2, said platform is provided on its underside withan annular toothed flange (4 forniiu a gear or rack with which engages the spur gear pinion, f, carried by a horizontal driving shaft, F, the latter being journaled in suitable bearings on a base, (it, below the horizontal plane of said platform, A. The shaft may be driven by a motor, engine or other source of power.

H designates a series of tables superposed one upon the other and positionedwithin the skeleton frame work, 1),,E, on the rotary platform. Each table is in the form of an annular plate seeured at its edge portion to one of the rings, E, of said skeleton frame. Each table is providml with a central opening, fl, and the tables are sopositioned that the openings, h, thereof are in alinement vertically with each other and with the central openings, at, of the rotary platform, A, Fig. 2. Tables, H, may consist of a single plate, or they may be of sectional construction. Furthermore, each table may occupy a horizontal position, but for the purpose of flowing; the liquid uniformly over the table, it is preferred to make each table slightlyconical, whereby the table inclines downwardly and outwardly from the central openings, it, toward ring. E. v M

Tables, H, are spaced equidistantly within the skeleton frame on rotary platform, A, and intermediate two adjoining tables is a battle or plate, I, a series of said battles or plates being: employed in the apparatus, and one of said baffles or plates being positioned provided with central openings, 2', and said baffles ,are secured at: their edges to certain rings, E, of the skeleton frame, whereby the battles are positioned Within and supported by the skeleton frame, and the centralopeni11gs, z','of said battles are in alinemcnt with openings, h, and a, of tables, H, and plat- Each baffle, 1, is substantially conical, but the angle of in-. clination of the batlle with respect to the table with which it is associated is slightly greater than the anglciof inclination of sai d a table, as shown in Fig. 1. Each batlle is placed Over one table for the'pnrpose of producing an air chamber, J. between the under-surface of the batlle and the top surface of table. and. this chamber has an inlct opening at its outer edge, next to the columns, D, and an outlet opening at. its inner net. in suitable receptacles.

edge next to the openings, 2'. The chamber is of less cross sectional area at its inlet opening". next to the outer edges of table. H, and batllc, l, and this chamber gradually in. reases in cross sectional area from said inlet opening toward its -outlet op ning, whereby the speed of the air drawn into the chamber is prm-tically uniform over the entire area of table, II, as will hereinafter appear, a

Extending upwardly through the central openings, a, 71, 2', of platform, A, tables, H, and battles, 1, respectively, are a series of columns, K, fixed at their lower ends any suitable way, and supported on these columns is a platfornnjc, the latter being positioned within openingnc, substantially in the horizontal planeofrotary platform, i Said fixed platform is provided with a manhole, k, which is normally closed by atra p door, b thus providing means whereby an operator may gain access to the ce n-T tral interior portion of the apparatus. Ver tical columns, K, extend upwardly to the top portion of the apparatus, and they serve primarily as the means for supporting one branch, Z, of a Wind trunk, L, and the roof or cover, M, of the apparatus, As shown branch, Z, of the wind trunkjs fastened di rectly to the upper ends of columns, K, and

I M, is attached to said wind trunk branch, but this detailed construction may be modified. The branch, Z, is connected with anexhaust fan'or blower, L', and the outgoing branch, Z' of said windftrunle is connected with a dllst collector or centrifua roof or cover,

gal n'iachine, M, the latter being constructed 111 accordance witlt certain prior patents heretofore, granted to me, for the purpose of separating the desiccated product secured by this invention, and col] ecting said prod- O designates a stand, pipe which is supported in a vertical posltion centrally wltlrin columns, K, and to the lower part; of this stand IHPL 1s connected a .feed p1pe, 0,, through which the liquld'substance to be; operated upon is forced by the action of a v pump, 0 said hqtud substance being supplied to the pump by a valved-pipe, 0, see,

Fig. 1.

Extending from stand pipe, 0, is a series, of branch distr buting plpes, P, the latter ,bei'ngattached at proper intervals in a suit ahle way to said stand pipe, and extending radially therefrom over tables, H. iEach dis} tributingr pipe is, preferably, ineliuedfrm a lel,

part of its length, so: as tolie' paral substantially,so, toone of the table;

Figs. 2 and 4, and preferably eaclrpipe is provided in its underside with alscries of distributing openings, 1 the outer or free end of said p pe being closedbva plugor head, 1). It is evident that the liquid mate rial to be treated is supplied by pipe, 0, and pump, 0, to stand pipe, 0, and from the stand pipe said material is distributed by a number of branch pipes, P, which operate in conjunction with the several rotary tables,

. H, so as to uniformly distribute the material over and upon said tables, whereby the liquid material is flowed in a thin uniform layer upon each of said rotary tables;

The liquid material distributed in the manner described upon the rotary-tables is adapted to be evaporated or dried by the circulation of air over the tables, between the latter and bafiles, I, and after the material shall have been dried,'it is removed by the ,action'of certain mechanical devices from 15' the tables. One means for removing the desiccated. material is'shown inFigs. 2, 3, 5

and 60f the drawin s, wherein mechanical scrapers are employe The scrapers, Q, are

shownin the form of rakes eachpivoted at upper-end, as at g, to a carrying member,

-, Q. the; latter being in'the form of an angle (bar which is. attached by a clamp, Q, to Jone. of the radial distributing Scrapers,Q, are held individually under .25

" r e b "shown in Fig. 6. A series of scrapersis pipes, PI

theftensmn of-s rings, 9', attached to carry- 6', and to the scrapers, as

.s'upported' by each carrying member, Q, and

said scrapers cooperate with one rotary table,

H, whereby the scrapers are adapted to remove v the desiccated material which. adheres to the upper surface of said.,'rotary table.

Scrapers-of each series are pressed by the fsp'rings into' yielding contact with each of sa g-said-tables, and by. pivotingthe scrapers ;and holding them under sprlng pressure,

said scrapers are adapted to yield in order to conform to any inequalities in the'surface of the table. e f The supporting member, Q, and the series 'of scrapers thereon, are positioned atone side of each radial distributing pipe,-,P, as shown in Fig. 3, andthe arrangement of said distributing pipes and the scrapers is such 4's.

that. the liquid material flowed upon the 1 table by pipe, P, is carried away from the scrapers, said table rotating in the direction indicated by thearrow in Fig. 3, whereby the freshly flowed .material travels away from the scrapers, and said scrapers are adapted to act upon'the dried or desiccated material, thus. exposing the, material to the drying action of the air, before said material issubjected to the action of the scrapers.

The process is a continuous one, for the reason that the liquid material is supplied continuously by pipes, P, to' the series of tables, said material is dried on the tables by the air-currents flowing over them, the dried material is removed in the form of flakes or powder from the tables by the scrapers, and the desiccated material thus released from the'tables is carried off by the air current, whereby the material is subjected to the action of the air'current during the desiccating operation proper, and the re moved material is, furthermore, subjected to the drying action of the air' while said material passes through the wind trunk and into collector, M. v

Base, G, of the apparatus supports heat ing coils, R, the latter being of the form shown more clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 ofthe drawings. Said coils extend vertically be tween base, G, and cover, M, and they extend in zigzag paths across the base, as

shown in Fig. 3. Said heating coils are positioned exteriorly to the 'rotary tables, and

vide very large areas of heating surface, whereby the air drawn into the apparatus by fan or blower, L, is heate'd'to the desired temperature by contact with 'coils, R, before the air is brought into contact with the liquid material on tables, H. It is preferred to supply live steam, by a pipe, 1', to one f said coils are of such'capacity as to pro-' I end of the coils, and to the other end ofsaid coils is connected a return pipe, 1", which op-' erates to carry'ofi" the exhaust steam and the water of condensation.

precedingdescription taken in connection with the drawings, bill? it may be referred to briefly as follows. Pump, 0, forces the material through stand pipe, 0, and said material is. distributed by pipes, P, upon tables, H, the" material-being su plie'din a thin uniform layer upon each ta le. I Shaft, F, is driven by an engine, or otherwise, for

the purpose of rotating platform, A,- andthis platform carries with it the skele- Iton frame, tables, H, and battles, I, said tables rotating with respect to disapparatus, M. The air flows over the fluid material deposited in the form of'thin films upon tables, H, nd by reason of the peculiar relation of b flies, I, to said tables, H, the speed of the air is uniform over the entire surface of each" table. rotation of the tables, scrapers, Q, act to mechanically remove the desiccated filmy material from the tables, and the air circulating through chambers, J, not only evaporates the moisture from the liquid material,

but it, also, picks up and carries with it the desiccated material, whereby the residual moisture in the desiccated material is evaporated during the transit ofsaid material from the desiccating apparatus to the collecting and separating apparatus.

During the The operation will be apparent from the IVith respect to the flow of the air current over each table, H, importance is attached to the employment of battles, such as l, in connection with. tables, H. As heretofore described, each battle is substantially conical,

and the inclination of said batlle is ditlerent strum the inclination of thetable, forthe purpose of producing a chamber, J, the cross sectional area of which ,is greatest atthe inner edges of the table and the bafile. Now, when fan, L, is-in operation, air is drawn througlrcoils, R, and the relatively narrow.

annular inlet openings at the outer. edges of chambers, J'. The air in passing through 5 thechambtirs,and over the tables, expands in volume, and owing .to such expansion, the speed; of the air, as is flows toward the fan is not. increased, whereby, the thin layer of material on the table is exposed to the drying fi-CtlODKlftllG air uniformly thrmighontthe area of each table. 1. t

Having thus fully described the invention,

what I- claim .as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

overreach of the tables, and in contact with the thin layers of material thereon. 1

2.. In a dehydrating apparatus, adesiccating chamber, a series. of rotatable tables posi- =tioned one above the other, means uniting said tables for i effecting rotation thereof simultaneously, means for distributing liquid. 4 material to be operated upon in thin layers over said tables, scrapers cooperating with. said tables, and means positioned centrally with respect tothe tables, for securing the circulation of an air blast between said tables and in contact with the layers of material thereon. Y 3. Ina dehydrating apparatus, a desiccatin gchamber, a series of tables positioned one aboveithe' other, said tables being inclined from their inner edges outwardly and downwardly, a stand pipe provided With dis- I tributing pipes positioned over the tables for supplying liquid material upon said .tables, scrapers cooperating with said tables, and means for etlecting thecirculation of an air blast over said tables and in contact with the liquid material thereon.

4-. In a dehydrating 'ap 'iaratus, a desiccat I ing chamber, a series of tables positioned one above the other. .means for distributing liquid material upon said tables, means for iut'ill'Vlllilllll f an air blast overthe tablesand in contact with the material thereon, means for freeing the iilms of desiccated material as from the surfaces of said tables, and means 1. Ida dehydratingapparatus, afdesiccat tables with reference to the liquid distributing means and the film removing means.

5. In a dehydrating apparatus, a series of tables positioned one above the other, means above saidtables'and inclined with relation thereto, thereby forming a plurality of chambers, the inner opening of each chamber larger openings of, said chambers, whereby an air blast is'caused to :circulateever the tables, from I-the outeri edges, thereoii, finwardly to and the suction flue. I

6. In axl'chydrating apparatus, a desiccat-- ing chamber, a series of rotary tables posi-v tionedone' above .theother, said tables havto How inwardly oven the tables and in, contact with the material thcreom means exterior to thetables for heating the air prior to, its admission into said spaces bethe material from said tables. 7. ,In a dehydrating apparatus, a desiccatremoving desiccated material from said table, a batlle inclined with respect to'thc table for producing in connec.tion therewith an air chamber which increases in cross sectional area in ardlyirom the outer edge of said of air through said chamber. v 8. In a dehydrating apparatus, a desiccatlng chamber, a rotary table positioned thereto the table for producing in connection therew th an air chamber which 1n creases in cross sectional area lnwardly from the outer rem'oving the. desiccated material the desiccating chamber.

9. In a dehydrating apparatus. a tltSlCCiltr mg chamber. a rotary table positioned there- 1n,.means for distributmg liquid-material therewith an air chamber which increases in the table. means for removing desiccated materialfrom said table. andmcans for ex- \vl'iereby air is caused to How over said table and fronrthe outer edge of said table in.-

wardly thereof. i

' 10. In a dehydrating apparatus, a rotatable table, means for distributing liquid for producing a relative movement of the being of greater area than the outer opcning,, scrapers cooperating'wlth the .tables, and an exhaust flue communicating with the inner ing airinlet spaces. between their outer edges, means for causing, blasts ot an to enter the, air spaces at the outer edges of the tables and 1 tween the tables, and scrapers for removing in, Ineansfor distributing liquid material upon said table.-a battle inclined with respect.

hausting air from the desiccating chamber,

. for distributingnthe liquid operatedalpon in thin layers over said tables, walls or batlles .ing chamber. a table. means for distributing .liquid,material upon said table. scrapers for table,-and means for producing a circulation edge of said table, means for mechanically 'trom sa d, table, and means for exhausting alr from.v

cross sectional area inwardly with respect to air to be sup-plied to the chamber, means for thereby, rue-i supplying to the desiccating chamber the liquid material to be treated, and an air eX- hauster connected to the upper central part of the chamber for 'producin an'i'ipward flowof a blast of air through tne desiccating chamber, whereby the heated air supplied by this coils acts to desiccate the material supplied to the chamber and to carry oli the resulting desiccated product.

12. Inadehydrating apparatus,adesiccatin chamber, a series sitioncd Within said chamber and one above the other, a central stand pipe for supplying liquid material, a series of distributing pipes connected to the stand pipe and each positioned over one of said tables, means for exhausting air from said chamberWhere-hy an air blastcirculates over ach of said tables, and means for releasing the desiccating material from adhering to the surfaces of the tables 13. Ina dehydrating apparatus, iii-desiccating chamber the exterior Wall of which is composed of air heating coils, rotary tables positioned one above the other and Within said chamber, means for supplying liquid inateriai upon the upper surface of each table, an air exhauster connected to the desiccating chanil'ier for groducing the flow ot'air through the coils and securing an air blast over each of said tables, and means for IBlQfiSiIlgZ the desiccated material from ad-' hering to said tables.

1e. Inadehydrating apparatus, a rotatable platform, plurality of tables carried as for circulating air over and in contact was said tables, a stand pipe risng centrally through the tables, branch pipes positioned over the respective tables of rotary tables pofor distributing liquid material from the stand pipe upon. said tables, and means for scraping desiccated material from said tables,

15. In a dehydrating apparatus, a rotata' ble platform, a plurality of tables carried thereby, a stand pipe, distributing pipes positioned over each of said tables for distributing liquid material over and upon said tables, battles intermediate the tables and inclined with respect thereto, means for circulating air throughlhe spaces between the tables and the battles, and means for heating the air.

16. In a dehydrating apparatus, a desiccating chamber one of the Walls of which is composed of heating coils spacedto produce air inlets for the free inflow of atmospheric liquid material Within said chamber, and an air exhauster connected to the dcsiccating chamber-life produce a low of heated air in.- Wardly through the air inlets of the heating coils and upwardly through said desiccating chamber, the upwardly flowing current of air operating to carry off the desiccated material from said chamber.

17 In a dehydrating apparatus, a desiccatingz chamber the inclosing Wail of which is composed of heating coils arranged to produce numerous vertical openings for the tree inflow of atmospheric air into said chamber, means for supplying liquid material to and distributing the same Within said desiccating chamber, and an air exhauster connected to the upper central part of said desiccating chamber for producing a flow of heated air through said vertical openings of the heating coils, the air so admitted flowing in Wardly with respect to the chamber, and 11p- Wardly therethrough, Wherehy the ascending current of air carries oii the desiccated material from the upper part of the chamber.

in testimony whereof E have'signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WrLLiAi r SHJAS osnoaun'.

lVit-nesses i H. T. Baammun, N. G. POWELL. 

